Speed served her well, keeping her from straws' reach, but these things were not men. Their skin did not part like silk under a blade. Niccola found herself hacking as much as she was sidestepping. After a while, she gave up any pretense at art and simply brought her borrowed blade down on straw limbs with both hands. Strength had never been her strategy and the exertion showed as sweat beaded on her forehead. So intent was she on dismembering as many of the strange creatures as she could, she paid little heed to the sound of gunfire, a thing that under normal circumstances would have driven her to the ground as she was unused to such technology. She did not fail to notice the booming voice however.

Scuttling backward away from the last thing she had engaged, panting and sweating, she lowered her blade and watched the pair intently. Emotions flickered across her face. This was a child, she should help. Yet, perhaps the creature that held her knew a truth. Things here seemed not to be as they seemed, she thought. And so she waited, poised and watchful.